Tag Archive for: minnesota staffing

How Your Company Can Use Experiential Marketing in 2021

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Marketing…what comes to mind when you hear that word? While marketing strategies look different across every industry, it is particularly important right now as we are recovering from a pandemic. As every company is going to implement new and improved methods of operation as well as new ideas for how to bring in business in a post-pandemic market, staying relevant and in the front of your ideal client’s minds by means of marketing is key.

Depending on the business, reasons for marketing will vary. While some companies are looking to build a reputation and gain social proof, others are looking to inform and educate potential clients/customers on their product or service. However, the common denominator is that businesses use marketing as a tool to drive business and bring in sales. Particularly after a year of minimal in-person interaction, experiential marketing is something you will want to maximize.  An effective way to do so is through Experiential Marketing.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to have a physical product to use experiential marketing as part of your strategy. Any campaign where you’re interacting with your potential clients/customers is classified as experiential marketing. This is something that can set the foundation for a long lasting relationship between a brand and their clients as it gives you the opportunity to make a lasting impression. Here are three ways you can use this type of marketing to drive your business.

Brand Partnerships

This can work particularly well if you run a business that does not have a physical product. Free samples of any kind are sure to grab people’s attention. Hosting an experiential event in a public space such as a city park or taking the approach of guerilla marketing. Partner with a product based brand where they can give out free samples of their product while you provide a memorable experience of some sort. It can be a game for a prize, a sensory experience, or an opportunity for passerby’s to create something. Do everything you can to make it memorable, this is what will build omnipresence and keep you at the forefront of your ideal client/customer’s mind. 

Host a Gala/Fundraiser  

Especially if your company has a cause that it regularly contributes to. Philanthropy has become a core value to nearly everyone in the modern world. Knowing that you are an organization that is out doing something for the greater good will make potential clients more likely to work with you. Hosting an event that you invite them to will give the local community and companies that you want to partner with an idea of what your company culture is like and a taste of what they can expect should they do business with you. Hosting an event that will benefit a good cause is sure to bring in a lot of potential partners as they will be happy to attend an event where their ticket cost and donations will contribute to a good cause.

Exchange Event

If you are looking to collect email addresses, take photos for social media, or get more candidates into your company database, an equal exchange can be the way to go. If your office is located in a central location, set up a table outside. If not, find a space you can possibly pay to set up a booth such as a shared workspace, open-air market, or trade show. Invest in a bulk of something that will grab the attention of people passing by such as free smoothies, branded cupcakes, or branded popsockets. Tell people who approach the booth that if they provide their email or take a photo with your product, they are free to take one. Just be sure that it is something they will deem worth it. Branded magnets or pens are outdates and won’t make your company appear as very trendy or prestigious. Make a good first impression by providing them something of value. You could even go the extra mile and have a drawing for a grand prize for everyone who participates.  This is how you will get referrals and build a good reputation.

 

If your company is currently in search of employees, we at Award Staffing are here to help you. Contact us here with any questions or inquiries.

Life Principles for Personal Excellence

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Present times glorify hustle culture to the point that we have a tendency to think about our careers more than any other part of our lives. Whether you work from home or on-site/at an office, your job takes up 40+ hours of your week. Additionally, there is a ton of content in the online space that focuses on careers. Whether it discusses tactics for getting a job or how to do your best work on the job, what often gets missed is recommendations for personal life. Our professional and personal lives are intertwined and go hand-in-hand with one another. If we commit ourselves to personal excellence, it will show through in our professional lives and vice versa. Here are 10 principles to live by for personal excellence.

1. Develop Beneficial Habits

Habits are what will shape your life. It’s the things that you do consistently that will give you the results you’re looking for. Begin by deciding what you want in all areas of your life: money, relationships, health & fitness, etc. Then come up with habits that will get you closer to them. Habits can be hard to establish, but once you get through the initial forming of them, they will become a part of you. Choose wisely and you will notice them changing your life for the better.

2. Seek Knowledge, Not Just Results

Don’t get me wrong, we should always be striving to meet our goals. But we don’t want to get so focused on our results that we forget to do things for the experience, the pleasure, the experimentation, the exploration. Life is just as much about the memories and experiences as it is about making things happen for ourselves. Don’t burn out or miss all of the fun by always having an end in mind. You’re allowed to do things just because.

3. Learn Something New Every Day

Doing so will improve your life in more ways than one. The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you are to handle what life throws at you. You will also naturally start to have more confidence in yourself. It can also spark your interest in what will become a lifelong hobby or new career path. You will catch yourself starting to think outside the box and randomly being able to use the information you’ve learned as situations come up.

 

4. Lack of Planning Results in Less Than Achievement

No one is saying that you have to obsessively plan, but you will save a lot of time if you start your days with a plan instead of trying to wing everything. You also need to know what you’re working towards so you can break it down into small steps to create it. Planning will look different for everyone, do it in a way that works for you. The most important thing is just to have a plan and stick to it as often and as best as you can.

5. Distraction is the Enemy of Productivity

There are so many things in life that require your attention. Be sure that the majority of your time is being spent focused on building the life you want. Also, make it a point to eliminate things that are taking from you. Chores, long commutes, lack of planning, time-wasting habits, etc. This doesn’t mean that you can’t ever mindlessly scroll through social media, but do it intentionally instead of letting two hours go by and then wondering why you have no time left in your day for the important things.

 

6. Ability is Mostly about How You Spend Your Time

It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap and believe that someone else is talented at the thing you want or want to do. While ability can definitely give you the upper hand in some cases, working on your craft regularly is what will set you apart. Natural talent is only a part of it, don’t discourage yourself from trying and working at something just because you didn’t start out as skilled as someone else.

7.It’s Never Too Late to Be Great

Too many people choose not to act on something that they want because they fear that they started or are starting too late. If you choose to start now, you will surprise yourself with how far you’ve come in a year; especially if you’re consistent. If it’s something that you’ve been considering for a while now, it will keep coming up until you act on it. Start now, today it’s not too late, but someday it will be.

8. Do One thing that Scares You a Day

Taking small steps daily will help you diminish your fears and give you the courage to purse the bigger things that scare you. Doing one thing that scares you a day will help you grow as a person and see that we are much more capable than we ever imagined ourselves to be.

9. Take Your Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise Seriously

You have two places to live, the earth and your body. When we’re younger, we like to believe that we’re invincible and can eat whatever we want, go without exercise, and run on just a few hours of sleep per night. As you get older this becomes less and less of the case and will start to affect your work performance and quality of life. You don’t have to treat life like a fitness competition, but you definitely want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.

 

10. Do What YOU Want

In this lifetime, there are so many (and will continue to be) expectations put on us by society, family, and everyone in between. Especially if you decide to do something unconventional or even just outside of your usual, people are going to say something. You get one life to live, do it your way. If you choose to listen to everyone else instead of yourself, you will be missing out and constantly wondering what it would have been like if you had just done what you wanted. You’re the only one that has to live with yourself, no other explanation needed.

If you or someone you know is looking for a job, check out our latest job postings here.

Star Tribune’s TOP 175 Workplaces 2021

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Award Staffing is so excited to announce that for the 6th year in a row, we have made the list of Star Tribune’s Top 175 places to work in Minnesota.  This award is intended to recognize companies that are engaged, well-managed, and employee-friendly; and is eligible to any company in the state that has at least 50 employees. When an organization decides to participate in this recognition program, they allow their employees to participate in a 24 question survey to be completed between the months of January and April. It asks questions about 7 factors:

1. Alignment

2. Effectiveness

3. Connection

4. Management

5. Employee Engagement

6. Leadership

7. Pay, benefits, and flexibility

The companies with the highest rankings across all sectors are then ranked in order. This year we were honored to take the place of 15th  in the small business category.  In addition to giving your company a chance to be recognized, it also gives you a snapshot of what is and isn’t currently working in your company. When we received an overview of our results, we discovered that nationally, we landed in the top 5% of all staffing agencies for meaningful work, cross-department teamwork, and employees feeling well-informed. Our administrative positions indexed in the 99th percentile for overall job satisfaction.

When we received the anonymous comments from our employees, we noticed a pattern that our employees felt supported in their career growth and look forward to coming to work every day. Over 80% of our team members are engaged with over 50% being enthusiastically engaged.

Overall, it was evident that our employees feel a sense of collaboration and community when they come to work every day. They feel like they have a lot of potential to grow and are appreciated for what they do every day.

As a top 150 workplace for 6-years in a row, we know the importance of creating a great environment to attract the right talent. If you are looking for a staffing partner that can help you showcase your job openings and company culture to rising talent, reach out to our account management team today!